14 July 2010

Review: "Whisper" by: Phoebe Kitanidis

Whisper by: Phoebe KitanidisReleased: April 27th, 2010Publisher: Balzar + BrayAge: Young AdultPages: 281Overall: Recommend Level: Medium - HighChallenge: 2010 Debut Author (The Story Siren)Summary:Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears a frightening whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.

Review: (This is my second attempt at this review)
In Whisper you get to see the positive and negative side of being able to hear someone's thoughts. Joy seems to love her ability, being able to hear someone's wishes and grant them. And then there's her older sister Jessica who wants to get rid of it. To be like her aunt and make the power go away for good.
When Joy is fed up with her sister Jessica (or Icka for short) she lets her know exactly how she feels about her and regrets it immediately when Jessica goes missing. It should have been obvious to Joy when destructive, doom dweller Icka wasn't at her 15th birthday party wreaking havoc on the party goers. But all Joy was focused on was the douche (yes, I said) Ben. The guy her best friend Parker is pining over.

When Joy starts not only hearing the positive whispers from people but the negative ones as well, she starts to understand her sister a little more.
And then her sister goes missing.
In walks the "druggie" type guy, Jamie who has a secret of his own. I have to say I liked every single second with Jamie in it. I, myself, wanted to just hug the poor guy. Having a family like he does and the power he can't control. I felt for him anytime he was in the book. Which, unfortunately, wasn't very much.
The book takes place in about three days and in all honesty I didn't feel that was enough time for any of the characters to fully develop. Even the MC, Joy. All of the action was about 70 pages long at the end. Because the book goes so quickly and is so fast paced, that just wasn't enough time for me. I wanted more, more, more. Especially of Jamie.

I'm glad to know that this book will be a series. I hope in the next ones Joy & Icka decide to keep their powers and I would love if Jamie is in it a lot more!

This debut novel from Phoebe Kitanidis is definitely a hit for me and will stay in my fave list from this year.
I don't know what these debut authors have been drinking, but I want some!! :-)

I do have to say that this book is similar to a book I've been trying to write for a few years. Both Joy and Jamie. So that means I've got a lot of changing to do. :-/

2 comments

Hey, thanks for taking the time to review Whisper. I know you didn't ask for advice, but as a fellow writer I would say, don't worry if your story has similarities with mine. It will be unique because it will be your story, written in your voice, with your themes and your personal style. Best of luck!

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